It's almost unfair how talented the McDonagh brothers have turned out to be. Whether you're looking at Martin, who wrote and directed In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, or John Michael, who made Calvary and this spectacular black comedy, the brothers have a way of taking tired premises and turning them into something clever, intelligent, hilarious, moving, and even profoundly thoughtful when you least expect it. And The Guard may be my favorite of the pair's four films (well, maybe second after In Bruges), making me laugh uproariously for much of its running time and packing an emotional punch repeatedly once it gets your guard down. It's all anchored by the lead performance by the reliably brilliant Brendan Gleeson as Gerry Boyle, a cop who's either "really motherfucking dumb or really motherfucking smart," to quote the FBI agent (played by Don Cheadle) who's forced to work with him on a massive drug case. Gleeson is gleefully vulgar, enjoys saying horrible things to bother people, and without a doubt plays fast and loose with the law. But there's an inner core to him that's impossible to miss, and in Gleeson's hands, Boyle becomes never becomes a simple "bad cop," instead becoming something more complex and fully realized - a mass of contradictions and humanity who's equal parts selfish and giving, idealistic and cynical, and cruel and kind-hearted. And while there are no bad parts in the film - McDonagh gives great dialogue and personality to almost every character, no matter how small the role or whether they're villain or hero - it's undeniably Gleeson's film through and through, turning what could easily be a generic cop story into an Irish character study that brings its sharp humor and keen insight to bear and makes something richer, funnier, and more rewarding than the plot would ever lead you to expect. It's another example of what the McDonagh brothers do best, taking threadbare old cliches and making them fresh, thoughtful, funny, and even heartfelt.
- Josh Mauthe
- Josh Mauthe
RSS Feed
